Changing Lanes (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 4)

“I’ll take him while you eat,” Apollo offered. “I’m a pro at eating with one hand. When Grace was a baby, she refused to be set down. Even when she needed to sleep. Always had to be held.” He lifted Kane from Royal and cradled him to his chest. “Like riding a bicycle,” he chuckled. “How about you come with Uncle Apollo, and we can check the security cameras?”

Royal shook her head and took a sip of her coffee.. “Kane is going to be a mafia boss in training.”

“Damn straight,” Murphy agreed.

While Royal ate her breakfast, I made a dent in the mountain of dishes. I started the dishwasher and dumped the last of the pots into the sink. Murphy had wandered after Apollo with three more bacon roses and a cinnamon muffin.

“Bristol,” Royal called.

“You need some more?” I asked. I wiped my hands on the dishtowel and leaned against the counter.

Royal sat back and pushed her plate away. “I can’t eat another bite.” She glanced at the cinnamon muffins. “But save me one of those muffins for when we get back from the store.”

I laughed and grabbed her empty plate. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”

“Go where?” Marco asked. He walked into the kitchen with dark blue jogging pants hanging off his hips and no shirt.

“Do you think you could put clothes on?” Royal asked. She folded her arms over her chest and laughed.

Marco ran his fingers through his hair. “No, because this is my home,” he replied simply.

I turned back to the sink of dishes and laughed. I was supposed to be invisible, and Marco was right. This was his house, and he could do whatever he wanted.

“Maybe Bristol doesn’t want to see you walking around half-naked,” Royal argued. “Or maybe I don’t want you walking around advertising all your goods.”

“My goods?” Marco chuckled. “And as if Bristol cares. She’s like a sister.”

That was true. Marco was a handsome man, but I was not interested in him at all. “Is there anything you want for meals for the next couple of days?” I didn’t want to continue to talk about Marco’s goods.

Marco grunted. “I always tell you the same thing when you ask me that, Bristol.”

“Good food?” I laughed.

Marco clicked his tongue. “Bingo.”

I heard the stool move back, and then Royal let out a moan.

Yeah, I was not about to turn around. I wasn’t interested in seeing Marco and Royal make out.

“Bristol is going to make a bunch of food for the club, and I’m going to help her,” Royal announced a minute later.

I glanced over my shoulder at Royal and smiled. “Girl, you are more than going to help. You’re gonna be measuring, stirring, and baking right next to me.” If I was going to make meals for Wyndemere and the Devil’s Knights, I was going to need all of the help that Royal wanted to give me.

“Is it wrong that I’m excited right now even though we don’t know what is going to happen to King?” Royal asked.

Marco pressed a kiss to her forehead. “No, amore mio. There’s nothing wrong with being happy. King is going to recover; it’s just going to take some time,” he reassured her.

“Are you sure?” Royal asked. “I know everyone says he’s tough, but a stroke has nothing to do with his toughness.”

I had an uncle who had a stroke when I was younger, and I remembered that it was months before he was somewhat back to his normal self. I wanted to believe Marco when he said that King was going to all right, but time would be the thing that would prove it.

“I just know, Royal. King isn’t mean to leave this world yet.” Marco snagged a pancake from the platter and folded it in half. “And I also talked with his doctors. I’ve made sure he had the best team of professionals working to get him on the road to recovery.” He took s huge bite of the pancake and sat down next to Royal.

“How did you get to talk to his doctors?” Royal asked. “I was with you the whole time at the hospital.”

“Yes, you were, but you knocked out like a light when we got home. I was able to make a couple of phone calls.”

Royal leaned against Marco and sighed. “You’re a good man, Marco,” she sighed.